A cheat from Barwell who lied about living alone and received more than £17,000 in benefits has been found guilty of fraud by Leicester Magistrates’ Court.

Janet Kenney, 62, of Newlands Road, claimed £17,661 in housing benefit and council tax benefit from Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council between January 2005 and June 2012.

A benefit team at the borough council discovered the deception when a data matching exercise showed Kenney’s daughter was registered at the same address and had been for the entire seven year period.

Claire Webber, fraud team leader at the council, said: “This was a thorough investigation which proved that for seven years Janet Kenney lied to the council in order to falsely claim thousands of pounds she was not entitled to.”

When interviewed Kenney denied the allegations against her and insisted that her daughter had been living in Leicester. But when she was asked for an address to back this up she stated she could not provide one because the property had been “demolished and no longer exists”.

As the case was brought before Leicester Magistrates’ Court, Kenney still maintained her innocence but was found guilty of three offences of dishonestly making false statements to the council about her circumstances. She received a 12 week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, to run concurrently for each of the three offences.

Kenney was also ordered to pay £150 toward the council’s costs, an £80 victim surcharge and she will have to repay the money she fraudulently obtained too.

Mrs Webber added: “Housing benefit and council tax benefit exists so that qualifying households can receive help when they need it. Kenney abused this scheme and as a result now has a criminal record and a bill of more than £17,000 to pay.

“If you suspect someone you know may be claiming benefits that they are not entitled to, please help us stamp out fraud by calling our hotline on Hinckley 255683. All calls are confidential, all referrals are looked into and you do not have to give your name.”